RCA 和 RCM ，如果实施得当，两者同样重要且非常有效。它们都有不同的功能，但是当它们一起实施时，它们会相互补充并增加系统的整体效益。
1.根本原因分析(RCA)：
RCA 是一种用于确定缺陷或问题的主要根本原因的过程，以便人们可以采取预防措施和步骤来消除或减少问题。
2. 以可靠性为中心的维护(RCM)：
RCM 是一个过程，用于确定最适合实施哪种类型的维护策略。
RCM 和 RCA 的区别：
| RCM | RCA |
|---|---|
| It identifies “What could cause a problem?”. | It identifies “What did cause a problem?”. |
| It is generally required to identify maintenance requirement of any system. | It is generally required determine root cause of problem so that essential steps can be taken to reduce problem. |
| It is proactive in nature. | It is reactive in nature. |
| RCM is more costly and requires more time as compared to RCA. | RCA is less costly and requires less time as compared to RCM. |
| It is driven by preventive maintenance strategies. | It is driven by maintenance prevention strategies. |
| RCM basically treats symptoms of problems. | RCA basically identifies root cause of problem and then corrects it. |
| It is a proactive tool that is used to prevent problem or failures before their occurrence. | It is a reactive tool that is used to prevent problems after its occurrence. |
| It determines different ways in which a software might fail. | It determines why software has failed. |
| RCM is highly used as compared to RCA because of proactive nature. | RCA is less used as compared to RCM because of its reactive nature. |
| It starts with reliability initiative. | It starts when an incident occurs. |